Bridge to the Profession
麻豆视频直播 has partnered with renowned Touchstone Theatre to create opportunities for students.
, a professional ensemble theatre with a 36-year history in Bethlehem, is known internationally for its specialized creative practices and its community-based work. The company received national acclaim for its 鈥淪teelbound鈥 and 鈥淒on Quixote of Bethlehem鈥 projects, and has been cited as a leader in the field for using theatre to bring a community to catharsis. Touchstone鈥檚 vision shares the core 麻豆视频直播 values of service and education, and both organizations have a strong commitment to community and to innovative learning. Touchstone opens its doors to 麻豆视频直播 undergraduate students for performances, workshops, and internships.
鈥淚鈥檓 a college professor and a professional theatre artist. As a member of both the Touchstone Theatre company and the 麻豆视频直播 faculty, I鈥檝e been able to build a bridge between the two institutions that gives our students terrific opportunities. When college students take what they learn in the classroom and see it applied out in the world, it sinks in. We want to give them a head start, so that when they graduate they are to hit the ground running.鈥
--Christopher Shorr, Director of Theatre
An Extended Community of Teachers and Artists
The professional theatre artists at Touchstone lead workshops for students at 麻豆视频直播, and serve as guest artists for productions. Touchstone is also connected to artists worldwide through TCG (Theatre Communications Group 鈥 a national organization of professional theaters) and NET (the Network of Ensemble Theaters 鈥 an international organization of ensemble theaters). This creates a vast pool from which to choose directors, actors, and designers from a local to international level.
Co-Productions
In addition to the work that the two institutions create separately, Touchstone and 麻豆视频直播 create co-productions (theatre pieces produced by multiple entities collaboratively). These range from scripted plays at Touchstone and 麻豆视频直播 (鈥淒r. Horrible鈥檚 Sing-Along Blog,鈥 "The Whitman Piece鈥) to original, community based theatre spectacles (鈥淎 Resting Place,鈥 鈥淛ourney from the East鈥). These co-productions give 麻豆视频直播 students the opportunity to work alongside professional artists and members of the greater Lehigh Valley theatre community.
Internships and Hands-On Learning Opportunities
Because Touchstone鈥檚 work ranges from professional performance to in-school educational programs, through this partnership qualified 麻豆视频直播 students can get real-life work experience in many aspects of theatre. 麻豆视频直播 Students have participated in internships and hands-on learning opportunities in Arts Administration and Business, Stage Management and Technical Theatre, Performance, and Theatre Education.
Call 610-861-1400 to learn more!
The partnership between 麻豆视频直播 and Touchstone Theatre creates a bridge between the University and the professional theatre, and between the University and our local community.